The deadline for re-registering Toyota Hilux passenger pickups as goods or charter vehicle has been extended until April 30, an official announcement said.
Earlier, the authorities said they will ban Toyota Hilux pickup trucks from running as passenger carriers in Yangon municipal area starting mid-February amid government efforts to prevent road accidents.
The decision to replace Hilux pickups in 33 townships of Yangon municipal area with mini buses was taken in December last year at a policy and security meeting of the Yangon Regional Government.
However, authorities allowed the provision for the owners to re-register and convert those vehicles from passenger carriers to goods transporting vehicles.
U Hla Aung, chairman of the Central Supervisory Committee for Motor Vehicles and Vessels (CSCMVV) of Yangon region, said most of the Hilux car owners requested for an extension so the department has decided to extend the deadline.
“We are allowing the extension to give the vehicle owners more time to prepare and get ready to carry passengers with minibuses,” he said.
If Hilux cars apply for charter and goods vehicle registration the department will allow them “Ka” and “Ga” numbered licence plates, U Kyaw Aye Lwin, head of the vehicles’ department, said.
The CSCMVV data shows that there were 63 accidents from January 1 to March 15 involving Hilux cars. Currently, Yangon has 46 Hilux passenger service routes with 831 cars.
According to the city’s road transport administration, the number of motor vehicles operating in Myanmar stood at 3.9 million as of September 2013, including 3.347 million motorcycles, 382, 816 passenger cars, 102,537 trucks and 20,504 buses.
